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The 1880 Census for Joseph and Emily PJ Wakefield

One expects the census entries for a household to follow a particular pattern:
  • Head of Household
  • Spouse
  • Children in descending age
  • Others
When the entries don't follow this order, it can raise questions.


Below is a detail from the 1880 census for the family of Joseph and Emily PJ Wakefield, Greensburg, Green, Kentucky

Wakefield, Joseph | Black | Male | 43 | Head of Household | Married | Farmer
Wakefield, Emily PJ | Mulatto | Female | 26 | Wife | Married | Keeping Home
Wakefield, Aldora | Mulatto | Female | 1 | Daughter | Single
Wakefield, Christopher | Mulatto | Male | 18 | Servant | Married | Farm Laborer
Wakefield, Mary J | Mulatto | Female | 12 | Step Daughter | Single | At Home
Wakefield, John W | Mulatto | Male | 6 | Son | Single
Wakefield, Martha | Mulatto | Female | ? | ? | Married | At Home

Ancestry.com's "tree hints" suggest that Aldora is the only child of Joseph and Emily in this census. Once it reaches a servant, it assumes the rest of the household is indeterminable. (at least, by a machine.)

  • Since Christopher and Martha are both listed as married, it is possible they are a couple.
  • Mary J is listed as a step-daughter. That *should* mean that Joseph is her step-father, and Emily her mother. Emily is only 14 years older than Mary. However, it is a possibility.
  • John W is listed as a son of Joseph. Whether or not Emily is his mother is not known from the census.
John W Wakefield was my child's second great grandfather. He passed as white. According to my child's DNA test, they have 3% African DNA, which is approximately what one expects from one third great grandparent, on average. However, that's just the average.

There is a marriage record for Joseph and Emily from 1879, about three months after Aldora's birth. However, John could still be the son of both Joseph and Emily. Regardless of whether Emily was his biological mother, she raised him with Joseph. 

Prior to the civil war, Joseph Wakefield was a slave in Green County, Kentucky, and Emily PJ Smith was a slave in Louisville. Joseph escaped to join the Army.  I have no experience with researching slave histories, and I'm looking forward to learning more abut Joseph, Emily, and their family.

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  1. UnknownSeptember 21, 2020 at 3:53 PM


    Below is a detail from the 1880 census for the family of Joseph and Emily PJ Wakefield, Greensburg, Green, Kentucky




    Wakefield, Joseph | Black | Male | 43 | Head of Household | Married | Farmer
    Wakefield, Emily PJ | Mulatto | Female | 26 | Wife | Married | Keeping Home
    Wakefield, Aldora | Mulatto | Female | 1 | Daughter | Single
    Wakefield, Christopher | Mulatto | Male | 18 | Servant | Married | Farm Laborer
    Wakefield, Mary J | Mulatto | Female | 12 | Step Daughter | Single | At Home
    Wakefield, John W | Mulatto | Male | 6 | Son | Single
    Wakefield, Martha | Mulatto | Female | ? | ? | Married | At Home


    Note of correction needed:
    Emily P. J. Smith was born in Slavery ca. October of 1845 in Louisville, KY.
    Her age would have been 36 in 1880. Joseph Wakefield is ca. 7 years older than Emily.

    Sorry, but I make timelines to follow these people & fact check when ever possible.
    Emily's birthdate had to be a typeo on the census record.

    Thank you for finding these very valuable documents & sharing them with others!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Roots DisentangledApril 13, 2021 at 9:11 PM

      Ages can vary dramatically on census records. On any record. I know in the 1900 census Oct 1849 is listed as her birth year, the 1895 state census implies 1850, and the 1910 census implies 1845. Her obituary implies 1843. Are there any other records you’re basing your estimate on?

      Delete
  2. KimberleeApril 12, 2021 at 4:42 PM

    John William Wakefield was my Great Grandfather. This is super interesting. Thanks for posting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimberleeApril 13, 2021 at 6:13 AM

      You stated that you might allow me to know how closely related I am to your child. My Grandfather was John William's son John Handley Wakefield. Can you let me know how closely we're related?

      Delete
    2. Roots DisentangledApril 17, 2021 at 7:22 AM

      Kimberlee - John William is the shared ancestor.

      Delete

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